Encoding.com and Dolby Laboratories

Partnering to Enable Premium Audio Experiences

As audiences increasingly watch video using their smartphones, tablets and OTT devices, consumer demand for a high quality and consistent audio experience across all viewing environments continues to grow. In addition, new multi-channel audio standards, reduced bandwidth requirements and compliance with FCC regulations – all present complex challenges for enhancing video playback with highly engaging audio. In response to these challenges, Encoding.com and Dolby have partnered to integrate Dolby’s industry leading audio technologies with our high-speed and dynamically scalable cloud-processing platform. The result is an easy-to-use solution that integrates seamlessly with any workflow for managing all audio requirements.

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Use Case Scenarios

Check out our Dolby Whitepaper

Visit our whitepaper for more information about our partnership with Dolby for closed captions and descriptive audio.

There are many use cases in which this partnership would prove to be helpful. This audio and video integration is not just for delivering superior audio quality at lower bitrates, but it’s also particularly useful when dealing with federally enforced closed captions, multilanguage support, surround sound (blu ray), and delivery to mobile and OTT devices. We’ll explore some of these uses in more detail below.

Encoding.com’s Integration with Dolby Media Generator

Encoding.com is fully integrated with the Dolby Media Generator (DMG) platform . DMG supports HE-AAC and HE-AACv2 which are both designed to deliver high quality audio at low bitrates, particularly when compared with the FAAC engine. As a result, HE-AAC is a popular option when addressing the 64Kbps audio-only fallback requirement for delivering video using Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol. This requirement is enforced by Apple and applies to all video over a certain length that is viewed using an iOS app. Dolby Digital Plus (EAC3) is also available for optimized multi-channel audio delivery to OTT set-top boxes and a broad spectrum of popular connected devices. Encoding.com also supports Dolby’s AC3 for surround sound.

Descriptive audio provides accessibility to an audible narration that describes all visual context of a video. For visually impaired individuals experiencing video content without using descriptive audio, 80-90% of the visual content becomes inaccessible. In the past, broadcasters have often prepared video with descriptive audio by mixing both the main and descriptive audio elements. The mixed audio is then transmitted with the main audio and receivers switch between the two audio services based on user setup. This approach can double the audio bitrate requirement, prevents users from adjusting how the mix is performed and prevents true 5.1 surround sound. Encoding.com and Dolby oﬀer a full-featured descriptive audio solution that transmits descriptive audio as a separate bitstream, utilizing a secondary audio channel delivered alongside the main audio service. Mixing occurs within the receiving device. This approach is more bandwidth eﬃcient because each audio element is transmitted only once. Both main and descriptive soundtracks are delivered in a single Dolby Digital Plus stream that is easy to produce and distribute.

Encoding.com and Dolby’s descriptive audio solution enables:

Improved eﬃciency for delivery in low bandwidth environments

Support across over 1.3 billion devices including mobile, browser and OTT

Delivery via a single Dolby Digital Plus stream that is easy to produce and
distribute

Highest possible quality and support for multichannel surround sound
including 5.1

Controls for balance between main and descriptive audio to suit their
listening preferences